Puppy farming is defined as ‘a commercial dog breeding facility that is operated with an emphasis upon profits above animal welfare and is often in substandard conditions regarding the well-being of dogs in their care’. And yes its a big problem here in the UK.
This is something that makes most animal lovers angry and sad – why does this go on in an animal loving country like the UK? But the problem is that a lot of people don’t know about it – websites like Gumtree advertising cute puppies, pet shops (even those luxury ones) that sell puppies – they all come from puppy farms. Step in TV vet and animal welfare campaigner Marc Abraham (or Marc the vet as he’s more commonly known). He is the man behind Pupaid – the UK’s biggest anti puppy farming event.
Lovesniffy’s met up with him recently in primrose Hill – home to this years event…
“I was working in an emergency vet clinic a number of years ago now, and I noticed that we were getting more and more cases of sick puppies coming in and an increase of them having parvovirus. I started studying puppy farms on the internet to see what they were all about and how, if at all, they were regulated. To say I was shocked when I saw my first puppy farm is an understatement. I had to do something. I knew that there was a puppy mill awareness day in the US, so decided to start one here. I actually came up with the idea in the bath…”
From the bath to Brighton racecourse, Marc put on his first event in 2009. When MP Caroline Lucas turned up Marc knew his passion was gaining support,
“The first event was the called worlds biggest puppy party, I had no idea if anyone would turn up to be honest. But people did and were so supportive that I knew this was a cause that wasn’t one I was going to have to battle on my own. Since then the worlds biggest puppy party became Pupaid and we’ve had stars like Bob Geldolf talk about it, Ricky Gervais tweets about it and Liam Gallagher, Pual Weller and Brian May signed a guitar that was auctioned off – the support has been incredible”.
(There was also some air guitar with Brian May in his garden but thats another story!)
Since then Pupaid has moved to London and the event has taken place in Primrose Hill. This year’s event is certain to be the biggest so far with more interest, stars and trade coming than ever before.
As far as the campaign goes, 2014 is by far the biggest year in it’s history with the debate taking place in parliament tomorrow after the e-petition to stop the sale of puppies without their mothers present reached well over its 100,000 signature target.
“We need everyone’s support – we want puppy farming to become a thing of the past in the UK and its possible to achieve – in the US dog mad states like Los Angeles have banned the sale of dogs in shops. We can do it”.
Be part of Pupaid’s campaign – make sure your MP is taking part in the debate tomorrow and lets make puppy farms a thing of the past. If you’re unsure what to do visit the Pupaid website for all the info.
Join us at the UK’s biggest anti puppy farming event in Primrose Hill on September 6th and be part of something that will change animal welfare in the UK for the better. Lovesniffy’s are very proud to be a part of and support Pupaid.
For more information visit Pupaid
Always remember the following when buying a puppy:
Only buy a puppy if:
You can see puppy interacting with mum
It’s a breeder recommended by the Kennel Club (preferably Assured Breeder)
It’s a rescue centre that’s a registered charity
Be suspicious of a puppy farmed pup if:
Mum isn’t there (she’s most likely miles away on cruel puppy farm)
You’re told mum’s at the vet, been run over, sick, basically anywhere else
Price is either very cheap (£100-£350) or very expensive (£2000-£7000)
Pup is being sold in a pet shop or garden centre
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